River Levels
Iowa river levels
Live streamflow for 99 gauged Iowa reaches, highest first. Where a gauge has a long enough record, the reading is placed against its own history for today's date.
61% of gauged Iowa rivers are running above normal for the date, as of October 26, 2026.
Of 71 gauged reaches with a long enough USGS record, 4 are below normal (0 of them much below), 24 are in the normal range, and 43 are above normal (12 of them much above). Normal means the middle half of that gauge's own history for this calendar date.
To cite: Angling Hubs analysis of USGS streamflow, anglinghubs.com/flows/iowa.
| River | Flow | Usually today | Vs normal | NWS flood status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi RiverMississippi River at Clinton, IA | 29,000 cfs9.37 ft | 35,100 cfs | Normal35th percentile · 153 yr record | No NWS flood stage |
| Missouri RiverMissouri River at Sioux City, IA | 26,000 cfs10.55 ft | 32,200 cfs | Below normal22nd percentile · 74 yr record | Below flood stageNWS forecast: 10.7 ft by Fri 7 AM, below flood stage. |
| Iowa RiverIowa River at Oakville, IA | 13,500 cfs5.73 ft | 6,190 cfs | Above normal76th percentile · 17 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Des Moines RiverDes Moines River at Ottumwa, IA | 11,000 cfs4.86 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Cedar RiverCedar River at Cedar Rapids, IA | 6,890 cfs5.43 ft | 1,640 cfs | Much above normal92nd percentile · 124 yr record | Below flood stageNWS forecast: 5.4 ft by Mon 1 AM, below flood stage. |
| Cedar RiverCedar River at Blairs Ferry Road at Palo, IA | 6,610 cfs5.85 ft | 2,400 cfs | Above normal76th percentile · 17 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Cedar RiverCedar River at Waterloo, IA | 4,730 cfs6.88 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Skunk RiverSkunk River at Augusta, IA | 4,290 cfs5.51 ft | 583 cfs | Much above normal91st percentile · 112 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Cedar RiverCedar River at Cedar Falls, IA | 3,980 cfs | 1,630 cfs | Normal68th percentile · 13 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Des Moines RiverDes Moines River near Saylorville, IA | 3,700 cfs6.06 ft | 1,260 cfs | Above normal80th percentile · 49 yr record | No NWS flood stage |
| Raccoon RiverRaccoon River at Van Meter, IA | 3,510 cfs6.01 ft | 345 cfs | Much above normal93rd percentile · 111 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Iowa RiverIowa River at Iowa City, IA | 2,940 cfs13.18 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS forecast: 13.2 ft by Mon 1 AM, below flood stage. |
| Wapsipinicon RiverWapsipinicon River near De Witt, IA | 2,910 cfs8.66 ft | 578 cfs | Above normal90th percentile · 92 yr record | Below flood stageNWS forecast: 8.6 ft by Mon 1 AM, below flood stage. |
| Des Moines RiverDes Moines River near Stratford, IA | 2,790 cfs7.14 ft | 901 cfs | Normal73rd percentile · 59 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Iowa RiverIowa River near Belle Plaine, IA | 2,650 cfs10.18 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageFlood stage 15 ft. NWS reads 10.17 ft here. |
| Nishnabotna RiverNishnabotna River above Hamburg, IA | 2,460 cfs11.73 ft | 397 cfs | Much above normal92nd percentile · 104 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| South Skunk RiverSouth Skunk River near Oskaloosa, IA | 2,280 cfs12.51 ft | 240 cfs | Much above normal91st percentile · 81 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Iowa RiverIowa River at County Highway E49 near Tama, IA | 1,960 cfs5.46 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Wapsipinicon RiverWapsipinicon River near Anamosa, IA | 1,840 cfs7.30 ft | 351 cfs | Above normal77th percentile · 24 yr record | Below flood stageNWS forecast: 7.3 ft by Mon 1 AM, below flood stage. |
| Maquoketa RiverMaquoketa River near Maquoketa, IA | 1,580 cfs12.18 ft | 560 cfs | Above normal88th percentile · 113 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Des Moines RiverDes Moines River at Fort Dodge, IA | 1,430 cfs4.59 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | No NWS flood stage |
| North Raccoon RiverNorth Raccoon River near Jefferson, IA | 1,350 cfs6.73 ft | 153 cfs | Above normal86th percentile · 86 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| West Nishnabotna RiverWest Nishnabotna River at Randolph, IA | 1,310 cfs9.91 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Shell Rock RiverShell Rock River at Shell Rock, IA | 1,270 cfs8.61 ft | 479 cfs | Above normal78th percentile · 73 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| South Skunk RiverSouth Skunk River at Colfax, IA | 1,170 cfs9.97 ft | 143 cfs | Above normal90th percentile · 41 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Wapsipinicon RiverWapsipinicon River at Independence, IA | 1,040 cfs5.80 ft | 165 cfs | Above normal87th percentile · 93 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Little Sioux RiverLittle Sioux River near Turin, IA | 1,010 cfs8.03 ft | 498 cfs | Normal66th percentile · 68 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| East Nishnabotna RiverEast Nishnabotna River at Red Oak, IA | 989 cfs7.60 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Turkey RiverTurkey River above French Hollow Cr at Elkader, IA | 862 cfs6.38 ft | 339 cfs | Normal68th percentile · 25 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| South Raccoon RiverSouth Raccoon River at Redfield, IA | 792 cfs3.81 ft | 127 cfs | Much above normal91st percentile · 86 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Cedar RiverCedar River at Charles City, IA | 738 cfs3.11 ft | 341 cfs | Above normal78th percentile · 62 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| West Fork Cedar RiverWest Fork Cedar River at Finchford, IA | 733 cfs8.03 ft | 207 cfs | Above normal82nd percentile · 81 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| North Skunk RiverNorth Skunk River near Sigourney, IA | 651 cfs6.68 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Little Sioux RiverLittle Sioux River at Correctionville, IA | 646 cfs5.49 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Big Sioux RiverBig Sioux River near Hawarden, IA | 593 cfs11.89 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| West Nishnabotna RiverWest Nishnabotna River at Hancock, IA | 566 cfs3.52 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Beaver CreekBeaver Creek near Grimes, IA | 520 cfs5.42 ft | 41 cfs | Much above normal95th percentile · 66 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Black Hawk CreekBlack Hawk Creek at Hudson, IA | 483 cfs7.90 ft | 67 cfs | Much above normal95th percentile · 74 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| West Nodaway RiverNodaway River at Clarinda, IA | 480 cfs11.23 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Turkey RiverTurkey River near Eldorado, IA | 473 cfs6.01 ft | 182 cfs | Normal67th percentile · 26 yr record | Below flood stageFlood stage 13 ft. NWS reads 6.01 ft here. |
| Boyer RiverBoyer River at Logan, IA | 460 cfs4.48 ft | 125 cfs | Above normal82nd percentile · 108 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Rock RiverRock River near Rock Valley, IA | 458 cfs5.08 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| North Fork Maquoketa RiverNorth Fork Maquoketa River near Fulton, IA | 456 cfs3.69 ft | 266 cfs | Normal70th percentile · 28 yr record | Below flood stageFlood stage 12 ft. NWS reads 3.69 ft here. |
| Beaver CreekBeaver Creek at New Hartford, IA | 438 cfs3.96 ft | 70 cfs | Much above normal91st percentile · 81 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| English RiverEnglish River at Kalona, IA | 418 cfs5.49 ft | 53 cfs | Above normal84th percentile · 87 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Volga RiverVolga River at Littleport, IA | 415 cfs5.57 ft | 108 cfs | Above normal78th percentile · 27 yr record | Below flood stageFlood stage 12 ft. NWS reads 5.56 ft here. |
| Ioway CreekIoway Creek at Ames, IA | 407 cfs2.56 ft | 28 cfs | Much above normal95th percentile · 107 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Boone RiverBoone River near Webster City, IA | 381 cfs2.87 ft | 76 cfs | Above normal77th percentile · 86 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Wolf CreekWolf Creek near Dysart, IA | 369 cfs3.50 ft | 76 cfs | Above normal84th percentile · 31 yr record | Below flood stageFlood stage 12 ft. NWS reads 3.5 ft here. |
| East Nishnabotna RiverEast Nishnabotna River near Atlantic, IA | 357 cfs3.84 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| East Fork Des Moines RiverEast Fork Des Moines River at Dakota City, IA | 346 cfs8.51 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Little Sioux RiverLittle Sioux River at Linn Grove, IA | 344 cfs6.06 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| South Skunk RiverSouth Skunk River near Ames, IA | 338 cfs4.52 ft | 32 cfs | Much above normal92nd percentile · 106 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Middle RiverMiddle River near Indianola, IA | 335 cfs8.41 ft | 34 cfs | Above normal89th percentile · 86 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Maquoketa RiverMaquoketa River at Manchester, IA | 316 cfs4.90 ft | 104 cfs | Above normal75th percentile · 26 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| Upper Iowa RiverUpper Iowa River at Bluffton, IA | 309 cfs3.66 ft | 153 cfs | Normal66th percentile · 24 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| North Raccoon RiverNorth Raccoon River near Sac City, IA | 285 cfs8.02 ft | Not recorded | No historical record | Below flood stage |
| Middle Raccoon RiverMiddle Raccoon River at Panora, IA | 274 cfs4.86 ft | 72 cfs | Above normal81st percentile · 56 yr record | Below flood stageFlood stage 11 ft. NWS reads 4.86 ft here. |
| North RiverNorth River near Norwalk, IA | 265 cfs7.77 ft | 23 cfs | Above normal86th percentile · 86 yr record | Below flood stageNWS issues forecasts here only during high water. |
| South Fork Iowa RiverSouth Fork Iowa River NE of New Providence, IA | 265 cfs4.09 ft | 49 cfs | Above normal83rd percentile · 31 yr record | Below flood stage |
Streamflow from the U.S. Geological Survey, updated hourly. "Usually today" is the median for this calendar date over the gauge's full record. A gauge tells you how much water is moving, not whether it is fishing well or safe to wade: check the regulations and a current local report before you go. Flood stages and forecasts: NOAA National Weather Service; "Vs normal" is our comparison with the USGS record, not a National Weather Service product.
By state
Other states
Alabama
104 gauges
Alaska
20 gauges
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106 gauges
Arkansas
83 gauges
California
293 gauges
Colorado
176 gauges
Connecticut
41 gauges
Florida
120 gauges
Georgia
168 gauges
Hawaii
12 gauges
Idaho
128 gauges
Illinois
115 gauges
Indiana
131 gauges
Kansas
130 gauges
Kentucky
112 gauges
Louisiana
55 gauges
Maine
49 gauges
Maryland
66 gauges
Massachusetts
60 gauges
Michigan
137 gauges
Minnesota
96 gauges
Mississippi
70 gauges
Missouri
156 gauges
Montana
162 gauges
Nebraska
96 gauges
Nevada
64 gauges
New Hampshire
37 gauges
New Jersey
76 gauges
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85 gauges
New York
190 gauges
North Carolina
157 gauges
North Dakota
78 gauges
Ohio
127 gauges
Oklahoma
108 gauges
Oregon
152 gauges
Pennsylvania
179 gauges
Rhode Island
14 gauges
South Carolina
82 gauges
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80 gauges
Tennessee
91 gauges
Texas
369 gauges
Utah
117 gauges
Vermont
44 gauges
Virginia
142 gauges
Washington
165 gauges
West Virginia
78 gauges
Wisconsin
103 gauges
Wyoming
89 gauges
